Reversible turbine.



APPLICATION. FILED NOV. 30,1908.

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dzzess e6! G. H. HUMM.

REVERSIBLE TURBINE.

APPLICATION FILED Nov.so,19oa.

Patented June 2 2 sums-SHEET 2.

. c. THE NaRRrs PETERS co., WASHINGTON, n

GEORGE HERBERT HUMM, OF WALTHAMSTOW, ENGLAND.

REVERSIBLE TURBINE.

Application filed November 30, 1908.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, GEORGE HERBERT HUMM, a subject of the King of Great Britain, residing at lalthamstow, England, have invented certain new and useful lmprovements in Reversible Turbines, of which the following is a specification.

The object of my invention is certain improvements in the construction of turbine engines and the like, whereby they can be made to work equally as well either forward or backward, that is to say by operating a reversing lever or the like, steam or fluid can be caused to enter the turbine at either end the moving blades being so constructed that the steam will act on them in lthe same way on both sides and drive the engine in either direction as desired, means being provided for altering or varying the shape of the working faces of the moving blades or vanes, by means of independent rings of vanes interposed between the moving vanes, and operated so that the inlet of steam between the moving vanes will be contracted.

Figure 1 is a side elevation, partly in section of a turbine engine complete. Fig. 2 is a plan view showing in diagram the arrangement of independent rings of movable vanes interposed between fixed rings of fixed vanes and illustrating the movable vanes in one position or in accordance with one direction of rotation of the rotor. Fig. 21L is a view similar to Fig. 2 illustrating the movable vanes in a reverse position. Fig. 3 is a side view, and Fig. 4 is a section showing the means of construction of the vanes as built up according to Fig. 2. Fig. 5 is a section on the lines a a of Fig. 1 showing the means for operating the steam and the exhaust entries and outlets.

For the purpose of my invention l form the moving blades or vanes 1 of the turbine in such manner that their faces are shaped or curved in the same way on both sides, as shown in Fig. 2, so that the steam which is guided by the fixed vanes 2 on to one side or the other of the moving vanes 1, according to the direction of steam entry, will act exactly in the same manner on either side of the moving vanes 1, and cause their rotation either forward or backward, thus enabling the turbine to be driven in either direction with equal facility. The fixed vanes `2 are so shaped that the steam spaces or passages between them are contracted at their middle Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented J une 27, 1911.

Serial No. 465,330.

independent rings 18 and vanes 19 inter' posed between the moving vanes, as shown at Figs. 2, 3, and 4. These interposed rings of vanes 19 may be operated by any suitable means in such a manner that they will assume dierent positions between the moving vanes 1, according to the direction of entry of the steam, and consequently the direction of rotation of the turbine, and so that the inlet of the steam between the vanes will be contracted at that part and thesteam thus have greater energy.

rlhe steam entry 3 is preferably controlled by a rotary valve 4 which, as shown, is operated by pinions 5 and bevel gear 6 from a counter shaft 7, the ports of the valve 4 leading to either end of the turbine by either of the passages 8 or 9 into the circular chambers 10 having inlet ports 11 into the cylinder, the exhaust being effected preferably by teeth 12 arranged in quadrant form, operating the disks 13, having ports 14, communieating with the exhaust ports 15 and chamber 16 to the exhaust pipe 16a at each end of the engine, the exhaust being operated from the same countershaft 7 by pinions 17 so that the rotary valve 4 and exhaust disks 13 act in conjunction with each other.

The essential feature of the invention is the employment of a movable ring of vanes which are adjustable and disposed between two fixed rings of stationary vanes, the vanes of the movable ring being of approximately elliptical shape 'as shown and shiftable into reverse positions to coperate with opposite concave walls of fixed partitions or vanes between which they are located, the vanes of both the fixed rings and movable ring having the spaces between the same registering during the rotation of the turbine, and as many groups of the fixed and movable rings may be used as desired. The movable vanes carried by the movable ring have pintles which engage upper rings 18 over the fixed partitions or vanes with the concave walls between the said movable vanes, the lower ends of the movable vanes being unsecured, and by this means the said movable vanes and upper rings as at 18 are unitedly shiftable with relation to the fixed partitions or vanes 1 so thatv the movable vanes, as 19, may be caused to engage at diagonally opposite points the opposite concave walls of two successive or contiguous partitions or vanes 1 and by this means the enlarged port-ion of the passage formed between one curved edge of each movable vane 19 and the one curved wall is located adjacent the inlet passages of either of the fixed rings in accordance with the position of the said movable vanes 19 relatively to the concave walls of t-he partitions or fixed vanes 1. The movement of the shiftable vanes 19 is accomplished through the pressure of the motive agent in an automatic manner, and under these conditions if the movable vanes 19 are located as shown by F ig. 2, the motive agent if shut ofi' from the inlets of the fixed vanes at one side on the fixed rings will, when permitted to flow through the inlets of the fixed vanes of t-he fixed ring at the opposite side, crowd the movable vanes 19 over to the position shown by Fig. 2a and thereby reverse the direction of rotation of the rotor. The pivotal movement of the vanes 19 permits the latter to conform to the walls with which the opposite sides thereof engage.

Vhat I do claim as my invention and desire to secure by Letters Patent is 1. In a reversible turbine, the combination of a plurality of fixed rings having fixed vanes, a movable ring interposed between each pair of the fixed rings and carrying fixed vanes with shiftable vanes therebetween, rings carrying the said shiftable vanes to reverse the turbine, and means for supplying motive agent and exhausting the turbine at opposite ends, the motive agent moving the shiftable vanes when cut off from the fixed rings at one side of the movable rings and opened up through the opposite fixed rings.

2. In a reversible turbine, the combination of a casing having exhaust and supply chambers at each end for respectively receiving and exhaust-ing the motive agent, movable disks having openings therein and coperating with the exhaust chambers, a valve for controlling the inlet of motive agent to either of the chambers therefor, means for operating the said valve and simultaneously actuating' the said disks, a plurality of fixed rings carrying fixed vanes and disposed within the casing, and a movable ring between each pair of fixed rings and carrying movable and fixed vanes, each movable ring being provided with a carrying ring for permitting the movable vanes to be shifted by the action of the motive agent between the fixed vanes of the said movable ring.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand in presence of two subscribing witnesses.

GEORGE HERBERT HUMM. Vitnesses WM. V. BROWN, F. C. SMITH.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents,

Washington, D. C. 

